Apparatus for removing snow/ice from an object

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an apparatus for removing snow/ice from an object. The apparatus includes a housing, a nozzle, a handle, a battery and a tool. The housing encloses a heater and a blower. The motor housing also has a switch to start the heater and the blower. Further, the motor housing has three switches LOW, MED and HIGH which controls the temperature of the heater when the heater starts and another 3 switches SLOW, MED and FAST to control the speed of the blower. The tool is attached below the nozzle for scraping and wiping the show. Further, the battery provides power to the hearing means and the blower for its working

This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority from Indian Patent Application No: 1620/MUM/2013 filed May 4, 2013, the contents of which are incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for removing snow/ice, more particularly, it relates to an apparatus for removing snow/ice from objects, such as automobiles, house windows and the like by using heating and blowing means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In cold countries, there is always a huge snow/ice fall. This snow/ice gets accumulated over everything that is outdoor, such as roads, automobiles and the like which are left outdoor. To remove this snow/ice from the vehicles snow/ice scrapers made of plastic or rubber is used. Using scrapers cannot scrape large layers of snow/ice and requires more time and efforts. Various snow/ice brooms are also available, which have similar problems. Further, these brooms and scrapers may break when more force is applied to remove large section of snow/ice.

Therefore, there is a need to provide an apparatus for removing snow/ice, which overcomes all the drawbacks inherent in the existing instruments used for removing snow/ice from the vehicle body.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for removing snow/ice from an object.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, which enables heating flowed by blowing of snow/ice thereby reducing efforts for scrapping snow/ice from the object.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for removing snow/ice from an object, which has higher efficiency as compared to the instruments of prior art.

One more object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for removing snow/ice from an object, which is robust in construction and is durable.

Further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for removing snow/ice from an object, which is easy to operate.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for removing snow/ice from an object, which is economical in construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for removing snow/ice from objects. The apparatus includes a housing, a heating means, a blower, a handle, a battery and a tool. The housing has a nozzle extending therefrom. The heating means is disposed inside the housing for heating air. The blower is disposed inside the housing for blowing the heated air through the nozzle. The handle is extending from the housing. Further, the holding means enables a user to grip the apparatus. The battery is secured to the holding means for providing electricity to the heating means and the blowing means for working The tool is secured to the nozzle for removing snow/ice. Therefore, upon starting the apparatus, hot air is blown on the snow/ice, which melts the snow/ice to some extent and simultaneously the snow/ice is scrapped by the tool with reduced efforts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of an apparatus (100) for removing snow/ice from various objects.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of this invention, illustrating its features, will now be described in detail. The words “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” and “including,” and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items.

The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms.

The present invention provides an apparatus for removing snow/ice from the objects such as cars, windows and the like. The present invention comprised of a housing with a nozzle for enclosing elements, a heating means disposed inside the housing for heating air, a blowing means disposed inside the housing for blowing the heated air through the nozzle, a holding means extending from the housing perpendicular to the nozzle. The holding means enables a user to grip the apparatus for operating. A battery secured to the holding means powers the heating means and the blowing means for operation, and an attachment with a cloth or a scraper secured to the nozzle.

The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a schematic front view of an apparatus (100) for removing snow/ice from various objects in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. The apparatus (100) having a housing (10), a heating means (not shown), a blower (not shown), a nozzle (16), a handle (18), a battery (20), an attachment (22), a tool (24) and a plurality of holding means having a first holding means (28) and a second holding means (30). The housing (10) encloses the heating means (12) for heating air. The temperature for heating air is controlled or adjusted by a plurality of first set of buttons, which are LOW (12 a), a MED (12 b) and a HIGH (12 c), which are disposed over the housing (10). An opening (not shown) is provided on the housing for ingress of air for heating and blowing. In an embodiment, the heating means is an electric heating coil.

Further, the blower is enclosed in the housing (10). The blower is capable of blowing the air heated by the heating means. The velocity of the heated air is controlled by a plurality of a second set of buttons, which are SLOW (14 a), MED (14 b) and FAST (14 c). The heated air is egresses through a nozzle (16) extended from the housing (10). The nozzle (16) has a detachable extension (16 b) coupled thereto for increasing the length of the nozzle (16). The nozzle (16) has a detachable extension (16 b) coupled thereto by a coupling means (16 d). The coupling means (16 d) can be any coupling mechanism, which is obvious to a person skilled in the art. Further, the nozzle (16) has an opening (16 a) configured opposite to the housing (10), through which the heated air egress.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the apparatus (100) includes the handle (18) extended from the housing (10), which enable a user to grip the apparatus (100) for operating. In an embodiment, the holding means (18) is configured perpendicular to the nozzle (16) which provides comfort in operating the apparatus (100).

The battery (20) is secured to the holding means (18), which supplies power to the heating means and the blower for working thereof. Further, use of the battery (20) provides portability to the apparatus (100) and therefore the apparatus (100) carried without warring about power supply wires and there length. In an embodiment, the battery (20) is a rechargeable battery. Furthermore, the apparatus (100) includes an ‘On’ ‘Off’ button (10 a) disposed over the housing (10), which enables the apparatus (100) to start or stop power supply from the battery (20) to the heating means and the blower. In an embodiment, the ‘On’ ‘Off’ button (10 a) is a spring loaded button which has to be pressed continues to closer the eclectic supply therethrough. Further, the ‘On’ ‘Off’ button (10 a) is disposed on the housing in such a way that the button (10 a) is pressed upon holding the apparatus (100), this enables to stop power supply to the heating means and the blower thereby switching “OFF” the entire apparatus (100), which acts as a safety feature, avoiding mishaps due to working of the apparatus (100).

The attachment (22) is secured below the nozzle (16), which is in parallel position to the nozzle (16). The attachment (22) is secured to the nozzle (16) by a plurality of clips (22 a) and a holder (22 b). The holder (22 b) is disposed on the housing (10) and holds the attachment (22) at one end and at the other end of the attachment (22) the tool (24) is secured. In an embodiment, the tool (24) is a detachable rubber scrapper enabling scraping the soften snow/ice after blowing the hot air through the nozzle (16). In another embodiment, the tool (24) is a cloth, which enables to swipe the melted snow/ice from any object. When the snow/ice layer over the object is thick scrapper can be used and when the snow/ice is thin cloth can be used. In yet another embodiment, the attachment (22) is extendable and can be attached by additional attachment by coupling means (22 c). The coupling means (22 c) can be any coupling mechanism, which is obvious to a person skilled in the art.

Moreover, the apparatus (100) include a plurality of holding means secured to the housing (10). The first holding means (28) of the plurality of holding means is a short strap. In an embodiment, the first holding mean (28) of the plurality of holding means is rigid handle. The first holding means (28) of the plurality of holding means enables a user to hold the apparatus (100) by a hand like a brief case. The second holding means (30) of the plurality of holding means is a long strap enables a user to hold the apparatus (100) by the handle (18) or by the first holding means (28) and simultaneously can be supported by strap on shoulder. The strap can be made of cloth and may be adjustable.

Upon starting the apparatus (100) by pressing the button (10 a), hot air is blown on the snow/ice. The temperature of the heating means and the velocity of the air through the blower can be selected as per the requirement. The hot air melts the snow/ice to some extent and simultaneously the snow/ice is scrapped by the scraper or cloth. This preheating of the snow/ice reduces efforts for removing the snow/ice from the objects, such as automobile, windows of the house and the like. Further, the apparatus (100) in robust and economical in construction and is easy to operate.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention. 

We claim:
 1. An apparatus for removing snow/ice from objects, the apparatus comprising: a housing with a nozzle; a heating means disposed inside the housing for heating air; a blower disposed inside the housing for blowing the heated air through the nozzle; a handle extending from the housing, the holding means enables a user to grip the apparatus; a battery secured to the holding means for providing electricity to the heating means and the blowing means for working, and a tool secured to the nozzle for removing snow/ice, wherein, upon starting the apparatus, hot air is blown on the snow/ice, which melts the snow/ice to some extent and simultaneously the snow/ice is scrapped by the tool.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises: a ‘On’ ‘Off’ button to start and stop the apparatus; a plurality of first set of button for setting heating temperature of the air; a plurality of second set of buttons for setting velocity of air from the blowing means; and an attaching means to secure the tool below the nozzle.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attaching mean is extendable.
 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tool is a cloth for swiping the melted snow/ice.
 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tool is a scraper for scraping the soften snow/ice.
 6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the scrapper is made from at least one of rubber and plastic.
 7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a first strap secured to the housing for enabling a user to hold the apparatus by a hand, and a second strap secured to the housing for enabling a user to hold the apparatus on the shoulders.
 8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an extension coupled to the nozzle for extending the nozzle. 